The training camp of U-15 Japan Women's Selection, which got underway on Saturday 3 October, entered its final day as the young Japanese girls played a training match against U-16 Chinese Taipei Women's National Team.

Their opponents were physically stronger, but the girls selection proved how they developed during the camp. And they finished the four-day camp with a promise to step up to the next stage.

U-15 Japan Women's Selection  A group (5-0)  U-16 Chinese Taipei Women's National Team

Scores
23'   MIYAMOTO Haruka
25'   MIYAMOTO Haruka
28'   TOGAWA Yuki
43'   KATO Shiori
51'   YAMAUE Hitomi

U-15 Japan Women's Selection  B group (1-1)  U-16 Chinese Taipei Women's National Team

Scores
15'   KAJII Suzune

Chief Supervisors' Comment

OBE Yumi Chief Supervisor (JFA National Coaching Staff/National Training Centre Coach)
On the first day of the camp, I said to them "This camp is supposed to be built up by you 44 players." And I encouraged them to support themselves. In the lecture on the third day, I presented the path (national team activity) where they should trail. I had them think about "whether they are already or still junior high 3rd graders.”

Starting from the feat Nadeshiko Japan won the Women's World Cup in 2011, women's football has drawn a lot of attention, and our under-categories have also been successful. As a result, my players look like they automatically think, "I was selected to the national team, so I can win in the world," when they are selected to the national training centre and the elite programme.

I again try to have them support themselves. And on top of having an awareness to raise their own humanity at their age, I want them to aim at the top flight as a footballer.

During this four-day camp, some players looked not playing on their way because of high pressure, and their performance was getting worse because of hard training. I hope they can improve after getting back to their team with the experience they gained here.

At the end of the camp, we had an opportunity to play against Chinese Taipei Women's National Team as the Taiwanese were holding a camp at the same time. Even though their AFC Women's U-16 Championship campaign is just ahead, they accepted to play against us, respecting "players first." We appreciate the Chinese Taipei Football Association.

Players' Comments 

OKADA Manami（FC Belta）
In this camp, we had many high-level players. So I wanted to show what I had worked on, see how much I can do at this point, and try out right away what I learn during this camp. I think I was doing a good job in checking players with the ball in defence and making long passes and short passes in offence. I was also able to try some plays such as dashing aggressively behind opposing defenders. 

It was my first time to play against foreign players. They were big and fast. What I did well was getting prepared well to receive balls and giving out good passes. But I wasn’t able to score when I needed to. Out of all the things I did in this four days, I will keep practicing what I couldn’t do and improve what I could do even further, after I get back to my club. I am very thankful to come to this camp.

MIYAMOTO Hikari (Athpegas Football Club)
In today’s match, I wanted to put out the 100% of what I can do, and I also wanted to make many aggressive plays toward the goal, like shooting the ball after dribbling, which is my specialty. I made some mistakes, but I think I could attack the goal aggressively.

I usually play a midfielder on the sides, but today I played a full-back, a different position. I worked together with KATO Shiori at the side midfielder, we could breakdown the flank with our passes and I could go up all the way to shooting it.

In the first one, I could attack the space behind the defender from the side, but in the second one, they stayed back and there wasn’t such a big space there. So we chose to keep the ball with us.

Usually we can get the ball, but we can’t connect it well after that. So that’s something we need to get better at. Before coming to this camp, I didn’t do much of touch-and-go and overlapping. But in today’s match, I could work together with my teammates and try those plays. What I noticed was that we didn’t shoot too many shots as a whole. 

At the beginning of this camp, our coaches said there wasn’t anyone who could lead the rest as a leader. So I tried to take that role myself and became more vocal in the end. 

Schedule